Session 087: Portal to Hell is Closed Report

General Summary

# Closing of the Portal   Date: Jun 7th, 2025   ## Summary The Wild Cards found themselves trapped in a basement containing a portal to Avernus, the first layer of the Nine Hells, as waves of demons and devils poured through the crimson gateway. The air was thick with sulfur and the stench of burnt flesh as the party fought desperately to close the portal by destroying the red crystalline structures that sustained it. Bastion and Shadow had been focusing their attacks on these mystical orbs while the rest of the party held off the infernal invasion.   The battle intensified dramatically when a massive Goristro, a twenty-foot-tall demon with skin like dried blood and horns thick as ancient tree trunks, burst through the portal. The behemoth's charge killed most of the smaller demons and devils that had just emerged, including imps, spine devils, and barbed devils, while knocking Sas back ten feet and causing debris to rain down from the damaged ceiling. The Goristro spoke in Abyssal, saying "Cathroco star" as it locked eyes with the party, clearly recognizing them as significant threats.   Bastion unleashed a devastating Steel Wind Strike, targeting the crystal orb and multiple enemies with his flourishing blade technique. His magical assault dealt massive damage to the protective crystal shell, revealing that it contained an orb similar to those the party had previously collected. The attack also severely wounded a white Abishai and decapitated one of the hellish chicken creatures that had emerged from the portal. Meanwhile, Shadow cast a Wind Wall directly in front of the portal, creating a barrier of strong wind that prevented more creatures from coming through while killing the wounded Abishai with bludgeoning force.   The party engaged the Goristro in brutal melee combat, with Barlo activating his rage and claws to deal devastating acid and slashing damage to the massive demon. Calliope, transformed into a giant ape through polymorph magic, traded powerful blows with the creature while Sas used her druidic spores and Primal Savagery to wear it down. The Goristro retaliated with bone-crushing fist attacks and kicks, dealing significant damage to multiple party members and even knocking Calliope prone with its immense strength.   As the battle raged, Bastion successfully destroyed the first red crystal completely, exposing the orb within and causing the portal to partially close. The flames on one side of the gateway began to extinguish, though the remaining crystal continued to pulse with dangerous energy. Shadow maintained her concentration on the wind wall while peppering the Goristro with arrows, landing a critical hit that dealt substantial damage to the massive demon.   The final assault saw coordinated attacks from the entire party as they focused their remaining strength on both the Goristro and the second crystal. Bastion moved to flank the demon and delivered the killing blow with his rapier, causing the massive creature to collapse. Calliope then stomped on the remaining crystal as a giant ape, rolling a natural twenty and triggering silver flame healing that she shared with the wounded Barlo. Shadow followed up with her own critical hit using her bow, dealing devastating damage to the crystalline structure.   Barlo delivered the final strikes to the crystal with his claws, achieving a rare double critical hit that completely shattered the remaining protective shell. As the last pieces of red crystal fell away, the pulsating energy stopped entirely, and the portal to Avernus closed permanently. The party had successfully prevented whatever catastrophic event the crystals had been building toward, though they could only guess at what disaster they had averted.   In the aftermath, the party collected valuable treasure from the battlefield, including two thousand gold pieces, platinum, diamonds, and magical items left behind by the defeated fiends. Sas gathered the two intact orbs from the destroyed crystals, adding them to her growing collection of these mysterious artifacts. The demons and devils dissolved into ash and foul ichor as their material forms were destroyed, leaving only the corpses of the abyssal chickens from which the party collected feathers as trophies.   The Rakshasa who had made the deal with the party spoke to them telepathically, confirming that their agreement had been fulfilled and offering to transport them to their next destination. He warned them of an injured orthon seeking revenge and other devils who might become aware of their presence, suggesting they leave quickly. The party decided to travel to the trap street where the cats of Othog awaited the return of the time dragon egg they had retrieved.   A portal opened in the center of the room, and the party leaped through to emerge in the mystical trap street near Clara's office. Clara, the spokesperson for the cats, greeted them and confirmed they had successfully obtained the egg. Cats of various breeds emerged from hiding places throughout the street, though Shadow and Barlo noticed initial disdain from the felines, particularly toward the Tabaxi and drow members of the party. The cats' expressions shifted to begrudging acceptance as they began leading the group away from Clara.   The party followed the cats down an alleyway that gradually transformed into an otherworldly foggy realm where walls disappeared and thick, textured fog limited visibility to fifteen feet. The fog produced shifting, impossible-to-identify scents that changed based on each person's perception - catnip and bourbon for the Tabaxi, flowers and candies for Calliope. As they traveled deeper into this mystical domain, Calliope attempted to sense her companion Artie but could only catch a brief glimpse of his face in the swirling clouds before it vanished. The session ended with the cats leading them further into the unknown, their destination and purpose still shrouded in mystery.   ## Scenes ### Portal Combat Intensifies #### The party continues their battle in the basement as more demons and devils pour through the portal to Avernus.

Imps, spine devils, barbed devils, and chain devils emerge from the portal

A Vrock demon tears the head off a shadow demon

A Nalfeshnee demon charges through the portal

A massive Goristro bursts through, killing most other creatures with its charge

The Goristro knocks Sas back 10 feet, dealing 3 damage

Barlo is knocked aside, taking 2 damage

Debris falls from the ceiling as the Goristro destroys a pillar

Sas takes 4 bludgeoning damage from falling plaster

The Goristro speaks in Abyssal, saying 'Cathroco star'

Bastion notices the red crystal structure protecting the orbs

### Steel Wind Strike and Wind Wall #### Bastion unleashes a devastating attack while Shadow blocks the portal with magical wind.

Bastion discovers the red crystals are protective shells containing orbs similar to ones the party already possesses

Bastion casts Steel Wind Strike, targeting the crystal orb and multiple enemies including a chain devil, white Abishai, and Goristro

Bastion deals massive damage (56 points) to the crystal orb, chipping it badly (over 50% damaged)

Bastion severely wounds the white Abishai and decapitates a hellish chicken creature

Shadow hexes an enemy near the orb

Shadow casts Wind Wall in front of the portal to prevent more creatures from coming through

The Wind Wall kills the white Abishai and severely damages another creature

Barlo moves to engage the Goristro directly, activating his rage and claws

Barlo attacks the Goristro with reckless claw attacks, dealing 55 points of acid and slashing damage

Barlo activates his flying shield as a bonus action

### Goristro Retaliation #### The massive demon strikes back at the party with devastating attacks.

Sas attacks with Shillelagh, dealing bludgeoning damage to the Goristro

Calliope in giant ape form attempts fist attacks against the Goristro

The Goristro retaliates with powerful fist attacks against Barlo (21 and 15 bludgeoning damage)

The Goristro kicks Calliope for 30 bludgeoning damage and knocks her prone

Sas's spores deal ongoing necrotic damage to the Goristro

Bastion continues attacking the red crystalline orb with his rapier and True Strike

Shadow maintains concentration on her wind wall to prevent more creatures from coming through the portal

The giant ape (Calliope) gets back up and continues attacking the Goristro

### First Crystal Destroyed #### The party successfully destroys the first portal-sustaining crystal while continuing combat.

Shadow shoots two arrows at the red crystal, dealing 44 and 12 damage

Barlo uses feline agility to circle the Goristro and attacks with claws recklessly, hitting twice for 17 and 35 damage total

Chain devil attacks Bastion but misses due to protective wings, then misses attack on Goristro

Sas attempts Primal Savagery on Goristro but misses, spores deal 4 damage

Goristro attacks giant ape for 26 damage, attacks Calliope for 19 damage, kicks Barlo for 23 damage but Barlo resists being knocked prone

Bastion destroys the first red crystal completely, exposing an orb inside and causing the portal to partially close

Bastion uses True Strike and moves hex to the Goristro

Calliope as giant ape punches Goristro twice, hitting once for 17 damage

Shadow shoots arrows at Goristro, hitting once for 30 damage with a natural 20, missing the second shot

Barlow continues claw attacks on Goristro, dealing 42 damage total across three strikes

Sas hits Goristro with Primal Savagery for 13 acid damage

### Final Assault and Portal Closure #### The party defeats the Goristro and destroys the remaining crystal to fully close the portal.

Bastion moves to flank the Goristro and uses hex on it

Bastion kills the Goristro with a normal attack

Bastion redirects his second attack to the remaining crystal

Calliope (as giant ape) stomps on the crystal and gets a natural 20

Calliope gains silver flame healing and gives 10 HP to Barlo

Calliope deals significant damage to the crystal with two fist attacks

Shadow shoots the crystal with arrows, getting a natural 20 critical hit

Shadow deals 57 damage on the crit and 22 on the second shot

Barlo attacks the crystal with claws and gets a double critical hit (natural 20 twice)

Barlow destroys the final crystal, stopping its pulsating and preventing something catastrophic

Combat ends with the portal fully closed

### Aftermath and Treasure Collection #### The party investigates the battlefield and collects valuable items and magical orbs.

Sas collects two intact orbs from the destroyed crystals

Bastion examines the red crystal fragments and identifies infernal runes

Barlo uses monster harvesting skills to search the battlefield

Party finds 2,000 gold pieces, 173 platinum, a potion, and a gold jewelry box

Three diamonds worth around 300 gold each are discovered in the jewelry box

Demons and devils dissolve into ash and ichor, leaving only abyssal chicken corpses

Party collects abyssal chicken feathers as trophies

Rakshasa speaks telepathically, confirming their deal is complete and offering to teleport the party

Rakshasa warns of an injured orthon seeking revenge and other devils becoming aware of their presence

Party decides to go to the trap street to deliver the egg to the cats of Othog

### Portal to the Trap Street #### The Rakshasa opens a portal and the party travels through it to reach the mysterious trap street.

Portal opens in the center of the room through cracks in the flooring

Calliope drops her polymorph spell and transforms back into a faun before leaping through

Party emerges inside the trap street near the mayor's office area

### Meeting with Clara and the Cats #### The party encounters Clara and witnesses cats emerging from throughout the street, showing mixed reactions to their presence.

Clara greets the party and asks about the egg

Shadow confirms they obtained the egg

Various breeds of cats emerge from cracks and crevices throughout the street

Shadow and Barlo notice disdain and animosity from the cats, particularly toward the Tabaxi and drow

Cats' expressions shift to begrudging acceptance

Cats begin leading the party away from Clara toward the street entrance

One cat shows its butthole and flicks its tail at the party

### Journey Through the Mystical Fog #### The party follows the cats through an otherworldly foggy area with strange sensory properties.

Party follows cats down an alleyway that transforms into a foggy, wall-less area

Thick, textured fog with shimmers of color surrounds them, limiting visibility to 10-15 feet

Fog produces shifting scents: catnip, licorice, bourbon for Tabaxi; flowers, cigar smoke, candies for Calliope

Scents constantly change, making it impossible to identify specific smells

Calliope attempts to sense Artie but only catches a brief glimpse of his face in the clouds before it disappears

Session ends with cats leading the party deeper into the mystical realm

## Npcs ### Goristro A massive 20-foot-tall demon with skin the color of dry blood and old bruises stretched over corded muscle. Has thick veins pulsing with infernal energy and massive curling horns like ancient tree trunks. Battle-stained and powerful enough to kill multiple creatures with a single charge. Speaks Abyssal, saying 'Cathroco star' to the party. Has very thick hide that resists damage but was ultimately defeated by the party's combined assault.   ### Imps Small grotesque demons no larger than toddlers, shrieking like tortured birds with bat-like wings buzzing frantically as they claw their way through the portal from Avernus.   ### Spine Devils Devils with black obsidian spines bristling from their backs, emerging through the portal from Avernus during the chaotic invasion.   ### Barbed Devil A devil that emerged through the portal during the chaotic invasion from the Nine Hells, killed by the Goristro's charge.   ### Chain Devil A smaller devil with living, clanking chains that create harsh metallic sounds. Attempted to attack both Bastion and the Goristro but proved largely ineffective in combat, missing most of its attacks during the encounter.   ### Vrock A large bird-winged demon with a disgusting, drooling beak. Demonstrated its viciousness by tearing the head off a shadow demon and letting out a triumphant screech that prompted other demons to charge through.   ### Nalfeshnee A pig-like demon with large ivory tusks like daggers that barreled through the portal in response to the Vrock's screech.   ### White Abishai A devil creature that was guarding the area near the crystal orb. It was severely wounded by Bastion's Steel Wind Strike and ultimately killed by Shadow's Wind Wall spell.   ### Hellish Chicken Creatures Small abyssal creatures resembling grotesque chickens that came through the portal. Most were killed by the Goristro's charge, with one being decapitated by Bastion's Steel Wind Strike. Their corpses remained after other demons and devils dissolved.   ### Shadow Demon A demon that was carried in the beak of the Vrock before having its head torn off in a display of demonic brutality.   ### Rakshasa A powerful fiend who made a deal with the party to close the portal in exchange for letting them leave. Communicates telepathically and has the ability to open portals. Warns the party of an injured orthon seeking revenge and other devils becoming aware of their presence while confirming their agreement has been fulfilled.   ### Clara The mayor or spokesperson of the cats of Othog who resides in the trap street. Greets the party upon their arrival and inquires about their success in obtaining the time dragon egg.   ### Cats of Othog Various breeds of mystical cats ranging from alley cats to well-kept felines. Show initial disdain toward the Tabaxi and drow party members but begrudgingly accept their presence. Lead the party through the mystical areas of their domain, with one cat displaying typical feline behavior by showing its butthole and flicking its tail.   ## Locations ### Rakshasa's Basement A basement containing a portal to Avernus, the first layer of the Nine Hells. The air is thick and acrid with sulfur, burnt flesh, and rusted iron. Features red crystal structures on either side that were maintaining the portal. The basement was made specifically for the portal, with higher ceilings than normal, though still low enough that the massive Goristro scraped against them.   ### Portal to Avernus A gateway to the first layer of the Nine Hells, manifesting as a perfect circle of rolling crimson energy with tongues of pure flame framing its edges and rotating around. Generates unbearable infernal heat and allows demons and devils to pour through until the party destroys the sustaining crystals.   ### Trap Street A mysterious magical street where the cats of Othog reside. Contains Clara's office area and various hiding spots for cats throughout cracks and crevices. The party was teleported here by the Rakshasa after completing their mission.   ### Mystical Fog Area An otherworldly foggy realm beyond the trap street's alleyway where walls disappear and thick, textured fog with color shimmers surrounds travelers. The fog produces shifting, impossible-to-identify scents that change based on the perceiver and limits visibility to 10-15 feet. The fog has substance and dissipates when touched.   ### The Nine Hells of Avernus The first layer of the Nine Hells, visible through the portal as a hellscape beyond. Various demons and devils could be seen fighting on the other side before emerging through the portal to attack the party.   ## Spells ### Steel Wind Strike A powerful spell cast by Bastion that allows him to flourish his weapon and make melee spell attacks against up to five creatures he can see, then teleport back to his original position. He used it to devastating effect against the crystal orb (dealing 56 damage) and multiple enemies including the chain devil, white Abishai, and Goristro.   ### Wind Wall A concentration spell cast by Shadow that creates a wall of strong wind to block the portal entrance. The spell prevents small and flying creatures from passing through and deals bludgeoning damage (17 points) to creatures within its area when it appears. It successfully killed the white Abishai and damaged other creatures while preventing additional demons and devils from coming through.   ### Hex A curse spell that Shadow initially cast on an enemy near the orb, and later Bastion moved from one target to another using a bonus action, transferring it to the Goristro to enhance damage against the massive demon.   ### Shillelagh Cast by Sas to enhance her club/staff for combat against the Goristro, dealing magical bludgeoning damage with enhanced effectiveness.   ### True Strike A divination cantrip that Bastion used multiple times to gain advantage on attacks, employing it strategically while switching between targeting the crystal and enemies during the intense combat.   ### Primal Savagery Sas cast this spell multiple times against the Goristro, with one successful hit dealing 13 acid damage. The spell manifests as acidic attacks that can pierce through tough demonic hide.   ### Circle of Spores Sas's druid ability that deals ongoing necrotic damage to nearby enemies, represented by black smoke-like spores that pierce into targets. Dealt consistent damage to the Goristro throughout the fight.   ### Silver Flame Healing A magical effect triggered by Calliope after rolling a natural 20 while in giant ape form, gaining 10 points of healing that she gave to Barlo who was the most wounded party member.   ### Polymorph Calliope was under the effects of this spell, transformed into a giant ape during the combat. She dropped the spell before entering the portal, reverting to her faun form.   ## Items ### Red Crystal Structures Crystalline protective shells that house magical orbs while channeling infernal energy to maintain the portal to Avernus. Contain mystical infernal runes within their structure and appear similar to protective casings around orb-like objects the party has encountered before. When destroyed, they expose intact orbs within.   ### Two Intact Orbs Mystical orbs similar to others the party has collected, retrieved from the destroyed red crystal structures. These orbs are intact and undamaged, unlike some previously found cracked versions. They appear to contain worlds within them and are now in Sas's possession.   ### Flying Shield Barlo's magical shield that can be activated as a bonus action to float and provide protection while freeing up both hands for combat. He used this during the fight against the Goristro.   ### Gold Jewelry Box An ornate gold jewelry box with platinum filigree containing three diamonds worth approximately 300 gold each. Found among the treasure from defeated enemies.   ### Treasure Hoard A collection of 2,000 gold pieces and 173 platinum pieces looted from the defeated demons and devils in the basement battle, along with a potion.   ### Abyssal Chicken Feathers Feathers collected from the corpses of abyssal chickens that were slain during the battle, kept as trophies by the party. These remained after other demon and devil corpses dissolved into ash and ichor.   ### Time Dragon Egg A special MacGuffin that the cats of Othog needed returned. The party successfully obtained this from the red Abishai and brought it to the trap street to complete their quest with the cats.   ### Orb and Book Powerful artifacts that Sas is holding, which the lich god Vecna seeks to use for his return. These are central to the overarching threat the party faces.   ### Brass Orb A container that can house other orbs the party has collected, though these new orbs from the portal are too powerful to be used to power their ship without causing problems.